Shipping package of nursery flats



p 1968 R- s. MERTZ 3,379,304

SHIPPING PACKAGE OF NURSERY FLATS Filed April 26, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lira-"1.

I N vew-roz RICA/Q20 M5272 UTTORNE v:

April 23, 1968 R. s. MERTZ 3,379,304

SHIPPING PACKAGE F NURSERY FLATS Filed April 26, 1967 I Sheets-Sheet 2 lime/V702. Rmwneo .S. M5272 firroemes s.

A ril 23, 1968 R. s. MERTZ 3,379,304

SHIPPING PACKAGE OF NURSERY FLATS Filed April 26, 1967 3 Shee cs-Sheet 3 United States Patent (Mike 3,379,304 SHIPPING PACKAGE F NURSERY FLATS Richard S. Mertz, Torrance, Califl, assignor to American Plant Growers, Inc, Wilmington, tlalifl, a corporation of (Ialii'ornia Filed Apr. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 633,898 16 Claims. (Cl. 206-65) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A shipping package of nursery flats is constructed of two matching hollow specially formed side panels or cartons standing on end with their open fronts facing each other, and having integral vertically spaced corner supports for the flats which, upon installation, are secured by stapling through wings of the side panels. The walls of the flats, being stapled as aforesaid, retain the side panels in rigid conjunction with the flats to provide a completed shipping package.

Background of the invention Nursery flats containing plants ordinarily have been shipped in metal and wooden crates, or racks, or by placement on special shelves built into a truck. The crates and racks have been somewhat costly and in some cases for economic reasons must be returned empty. The special shelf arrangement in trucks limits the utility of the truck (or freight car), requires individual handling of flats in loading and unloading the truck, with a consequent holdup of rolling stock, requires pre-planned placement of the flats if they are destined for delivery at more than one location, and if there are an insuificient number of plant containing flats to fill a defined shelf area, these flats will shift in transit unless empties are put in place to fill the shelf.

Summary of the invention The invention provides a package of a plurality of 1 nursery flats fully intact and affording adequate protection for the plants.

It is suitable for elevation by a fork lift, hooks, or by hand, and may be quickly loaded onto the bed of a standard truck or freight car, and readily removed therefrom. It is suitable for stacking, and provision is made for horizontally interlocking the packages in a vertical stack.

It is expendable, especially if the side panels are formed of corrugated paperboard, which is the preferred material.

It is readily disassembled at the point of delivery by ripping out the staples which go through the wings of the side panels.

It includes openings in the side panels through which loading bars may extend from a fixed standard whereby the flats may be stacked in place on the corner supports of one panel, and when all flats are in place the second panel can be pushed into position, staples inserted, and the completed package slide away from the loading bars.

The side panels are conveniently fabricated from rectangular blanks of corrugated paperboard suitably cut and scored while flat, followed by knock out, folding, and stapling operations readily accomplished by automatic machinery.

Brief description of the drawings FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of the package in process of assembly on a loading station assembly, showing the panel on the right in phantom in its final intended position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, with part of the loading station omitted.

3,379,304 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 FIGURE 3 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 33 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the completed package removed from the loading station.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of the package shown in FIGURE 4 taken in the direction of the arrow 5 in that figure.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross section taken on the line 66 of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary horizontal corner section,

somewhat enlarged, taken on the line 77 of FIG- URE 4.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the cut and scored blank to be used in fabricating a side panel.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE 8 in a stage of being partly knocked out and folded.

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of a completed side panel.

FIGURE 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, of three packages in stacking relationship, two of the packages being shown fragmentarily.

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a nursery flat containing soil and plants.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the package in the process of assembly on a loading station 21 comprises matching (identical) side panels 22 and 23 enclosing a plurality of vertically spaced nursery flats 24. These side panels in their general configuration resemble cartons on end having a back wall, side walls, top and bottom, open at the front and with their open ends facing each other. In the particular illustration, the flats 24 are in the form of square wooden shallow trays in which repose a plurality of individual plant baskets 25. However, the flats 24 may be shallow boxes and themselves constitute the plant container, in accordance with alternative standard nursery practice, as shown at 24 in FIGURE 12.

The loading station 21 comprises a suitable post 26 mounted on a base 27, at the upper end of which post is a platform 28 slightly larger than the cross sectional area of the package.

Rigidly affixed to the platform 28 is a vertical standard 29 from which rigidly extend horizontal supports 30. These may be angle iron or any rigid elements suitable for temporarily sustaining the flats while the package is being assembled.

The side panels 22 (see FIGURE 10) each comprise a vertical wall 35, side wings 36, a bottom structure 37, a top 38, corner support elements or brackets 39, and a vertical extension rising from the wall 35.

The side panel is conveniently fabricated from a blank (see FIGURES 8 and 9) preferably made of corrugated paperboard impregnated with wax, accompanied by the application of heat by a conventional process known in the paper industry, the treated product being known as French Fried. The treatment stitrens the material and makes it resistant to moisture. The corrugations (not illustrated) should extend vertically to impart rigidity in the direction required, as Well as to facilitate the fabrication of the panel.

The blank is cut as shown in full lines 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52, and scored as shown in broken lines 55, 56, 57, 58, 60 and 61.

The scorelines 6t) and 61 provide for bending the wings 36 at right angles to the wall 35.

The cuts 46, 47 and 48 in conjunction with the scorelines and 56 provide for the top 38 to be folded down with end tabs 6t) and 61, which are stapled as at 62 to the upper end of the wings 36, leaving the extension 40 vertically disposed as shown in FIGURE 10. The cut 47 not only provides for the extension 40 but results in an aperture 40' in the top affording manual or mechanical access to lift the package.

The cuts 50 and 51 in conjunction with the scoreline 58 enables the bottom structure 37 to be formed and the parts retained in correct relationship by staples 63. The cuts 52 provide rectangular apertures 64 through which the supports 30 can extend during assembly, and they also provide alternate hand grip surfaces, as well as ventilation openings.

The cuts 49 in conjunction with the scorelines 57, out line diamond kite-shaped areas on the flat blank of FIG- URE 8. These are knocked out, most conveniently as a concurrent operation, with bending along the oblique scorelines 57 and the vertical scorelines 69 and 61, and form the corner nursery flat supports 39. Thus, each of these supports constitutes a bracket in the form of a pair of triangular members 65 integrally united along a segment of the scoreline 61, presenting an angular upper edge 66 horizontally disposed and extending inwardly from the corner of the Wall 35 and a wing 36.

The supports 39 are vertically spaced as desired and can be arranged in a manner to provide for taller plants at the upper part. Moreover, the vertical disposition is such that there will be four of these corner supports arranged on a common horizontal plane in the completed package utilizing a pair of side panels.

In assembling the package, a side panel is positioned on the loading station 21 as shown in FIGURE 1, with the outer surface of the wall 35 in juxtaposition to the standard 29 and with the angle iron supports 30 protruding through the apertures 64. Thereupon the flats 24 are put in position upon the respective corner brackets 39 and are retained in correct position by cooperation of the angle iron supports 30.

The opposite panel is then slid into position, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1, and in full lines in FIG- URE 4. Staples 70 are driven through the wings 36 of both panels into the side walls of the flats 24. This completes the package. The retention of the flats with the wings of the side panels by means of staples, as shown and described, prevents separation of the side panels from the flats by reason of the stiffness of the side walls of the flats, which in standard practice are made of wood, and whatever the material, will be sufliciently firm to function as described.

The completed package may be then slid away from the standard 29 off of the platform 28 by hand or by machinery, as desired. The construction of the bottom 37 (see FIGURE provides a slight elevation underneath the central region of the bottom for insertion of a fork lift, if desired.

When it is desired to stack the packages for storage or for transportation, as shown in FIGURE 11, they should be turned at 90 relative to one another so that the panel extensions 40 provide lateral barriers against slipping in one direction, and through these extensions or barriers staples 72 are driven into the contiguous nursery flat, and these staples prevent shifting in the other direction. Preferably the horizontal length of the extensions 40 is approximately equal to the space between facing edges 74 and 75 of opposite wings (see FIGURE ll), so that the extensions nest in the space between them.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in what I have conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of my invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures.

I claim:

1. A shipping package of nursery flats comprising: a pair of identical individual, horizontally spaced and separated, vertical side panels including vertical corner sections and embodying vertically spaced supports for flats extending inwardly from said corner sections, a plurality of generally rectangular flats resting on said supports and bridging the space between the panels, and retention 4 means securing the panels in horizontal confinement of the flats.

2. A shipping package as defined in claim 1, wherein the side panels each includes a wall, the walls of the pair being arranged in spaced parallel relation, and end wings integral with and disposed at approximately to their respective walls, the end Wings on one panel extending toward but unengaged to the end. wings on the opposite panel, the panels when positioned as described at least partially defining a horizontally rectangular confinement area substantially co-extensive with the external dimensions of the flats.

3. A shipping package as defined in claim 2, wherein the retention means comprises securement devices between the wings and the contiguous portions of the flats.

4. A shipping package as defined in claim 3, wherein the supports for the flats each comprises a bracket at the juncture of said wall and wing struck from the material of said panel, the bracket embodying an angular support edge disposed in a horizontal plane.

5. A shipping package of nursery flats comprising: a pair of identical, horizontally spaced, vertical side panels embodying vertically spaced supports for flats, a plurality of generally rectangular flats individually resting on said supports, and retention means interconnecting said panels to prevent separation thereof, the side panels each including a wall, the Walls of the pair being arranged in spaced parallel relation, and end wings integral with and disposed at approximately 90 to their respective walls, the end wings on one panel extending toward the end wings on the opposite panel, the panels when positioned as defined affording a horizontally rectangular confinement area substantially co-extensive with the external dimensions of the flats, the retention means comprising securement devices between the wings and the contiguous portions of the flats, the supports for the flats each comprising a bracket at the juncture of said wall and wing struck from the material of said panel, the panels being formed of corrugated paperboard, and the securement devices being staples driven through the wings of the panels into the contiguous portions of the flats.

6. A shipping device as defined in claim 2, wherein the side panels are provided with horizontal top elements upon which a second package may be stacked, and vertical guard elements extend above the top elements to engage a superimposed package for preventing side shifting in a direction normal to the guard elements, the guard elements nesting in the space between adjacent wings of panels in the superimposed package.

7. A plurality of shipping packages of the character defined in claim 6, and in stacked relation, an upper one resting upon a lower one and being turned at 90 to the lower one, with the guard element of the lower one lying against the exposed portion of the lowermost flat in the upper one, and retention devices between said guard element and said lowermost flat for preventing side shifting in a direction parallel to the guard element.

8. A shipping package as defined in claim 1, wherein the side panels include apertures with upper edges disposed horizontally coincident with the panel supports adapted to the reception of loading bars during the assembly of the package and also adapted for use as hand grips for lifting the package.

9. A side panel carton member formedof stiff corrugated paperboard for use as an element in a shipping package of nursery flats and comprising: a vertical wall, vertical end wings integral with and disposed at approximately 90 to the Wall, rigid support brackets in the region of the juncture of wall and wings, said support brackets being of the same material and integral with the wall and Wings and struck inwardly therefrom, said brackets embodying uniformly. horizontal support surfaces for the flats.

10. A side panel carton member as defined in claim 9, wherein each bracket comprises triangular vertical portions joined in a fold line at an obliquely inward and upward intersection and presenting at the top an angular, horizontal edge with its angle opposite to the angle of wall and wing.

11. A side panel carton member as defined in claim 9, wherein a top is formed integral with the wall and wings providing a seat element, and formed with turned down flaps secured to the Wings, and a vertical guard member extending upwardly in the plane of the wall.

12. A side panel carton member as defined in claim 9, wherein a portion of the Wall at the lower end thereof is turned horizontally in, lower end portions of the wings are turned in under the turned-in portion of the wall, and retention means secure the latter to the turnedin portions of the Wings to form a bottom.

13. A side panel carton member formed of stiff corrugated paperboard for use as an element in a shipping package of nursery flats and comprising a generally rectangular box-like structure including a vertical backveitical sides, horizontal, top and bottom and open at the front, the sides, top and bottom disposed normal 10 the plane of the back and sides meeting at vertical corners, the box being formed from a single, generally rectangular blank, and a plurality of support brackets in the vertical corners of the box arranged in pairs with each pair on the same horizontal plane and said pairs being vertically spaced, said brackets each being formed by an inverted V cut in the blank with material below the cut pressed obliquely upwardly and inwardly, and the exposed upper edge of the pressed-in material presenting a supporting surface generally parallel to the top and bottom for a nursery flat when placed in said box.

14. A side panel carton member formed of stiff corrugated paperboard for use as an element in a shipping package of nursery flats and comprising a generally rectangular box including back, sides, top and bottom and open at the front, the sides, top and bottom disposed normal to the plane of the back, the box being formed from a single, generally rectangular blank, and a plurality of support brackets in the vertical corners of the box arranged in pairs with each pair on the same horizontal plane and said pairs being vertically spaced, said brackets each being formed by a cut in the blank with material below the cut pressed obliquely upwardly and inwardly, and the exposed upper edge of the pressed-in material presenting a supporting surface for a nursery fiat when placed in said box, the back of the box being provided with a plurality of apertures vertically spaced and the upper edge of each aperture lying in the general horizontal plane of the supporting surfaces of a pair of brackets.

15. A side panel carton member as defined in claim 14, wherein a cut-out in the top afifords gripping access to the top and provides a vertical extensioin of the back in the plane of the same serving as a guard element to restrain transverse shifting in one direction of an object placed on the top.

16. A shipping package of nursery flats comprising: a pair of independent vertical support structures generally -shaped in horizontal section, spaced apart with the opening of the U in one structure facing that of the other, vertically spaced supports on the inside corner of each structure, said supports embodying generally horizontal rigid supporting surfaces extending inwardly from the corners, a plurality of generally rectangular flats resting on said supporting surfaces and aiding in maintaining said members in separated relationship, and securement means unifying at least the uppermost and the lowermost of the flats and the members in rigid association.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,640,452 8/1927 Knowlton 206-65 1,800,841 4/1931 Maston. 2,723,795 11/ 1955 -MacKenzie 229-37 2,964,229 12/1960 Mansfield 20665 3,163,344 12/1964 Tunic-k. 3,284,949 11/1966 Park.

DAVID M. BCCKENEK, Primary Examiner. 

